spekboom, noun
- Forms:
- Show more Also speckbaum, specboom, speckboom, speck-boom, spek-boem, spek-boom.
- Origin:
- South African Dutch, DutchShow more South African Dutch, from Dutch spek blubber, pork fat + boom tree.
1. The succulent shrub or small tree Portulacaria afra of the Portulacaceae, a valuable fodder plant in times of drought, with fleshy leaves and small pink to lilac flowers; elephant’s food, see elephant. Also attributive.
[1688 G. Tachard Voy. to Siam 51High and thick Hedges, of a kind of Laurel, which they call Speck, always green, and pretty like to the Filaria.]
1992 T. Van Rensburg in S. Afr. Panorama Mar.–Apr. 8In the Richtersveld to the north, the quiver tree (Aloe dichotoma) and the elephant’s trunk (Pachypodium namaquanum) are the most typical, with the many species of aloe and the spekboom (Portulacaria afra) most typical of the Little Karoo.
2. combination
1987 T.F.J. Van Rensburg Intro. to Fynbos 24The following..veld types are mainly found adjoining fynbos areas:..Spekboomveld (dense shrubs dominated by the porkbush Portulacaria afra). From Calitzdorp to Graaff-Reinet.
The succulent shrub or small tree Portulacaria afra of the Portulacaceae, a valuable fodder plant in times of drought, with fleshy leaves and small pink to lilac flowers; elephant’s food, see elephant. Also attributive.
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